Water driven fountain brush



Sept. 1, 1953 w. FLEMING 2,650,381

WATER DRIVEN FOUNTAIN BRUSH Filed D c. :so, 1952 INVENTOR. WILLIAM FLEMING;

BY 4 77%?77WqflMmv/7Mm Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to fountain brushes useful in diiferent sizes for washing various types of washable objects from dishes to automobiles, and more particularly to a water driven fountain brush having detergent dispensing means associated therewith.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved fountain brush which is rotatably driven by the water supplied thereto; which has detergent dispensing means associated therewith for adding detergent material to the water supplied to the brush; which is so constructed and arranged that the brush is locked against rotation and th flow of water is reduced when the water supply is turned on and the brush is not in use; which can be easily attached to available water supply conduits, such as sink faucets and garden hoses; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, effective in use, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a water driven fountain brush illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the brush illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the brush;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on a reduced scale on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view on a reduced scale on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view on a reduced scale on the line 1-1 of Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 4.

With continued reference to the drawing, the brush comprises a housing, enerally indicated at Ill, including an annular and preferably cylindrical side wall H, a top wall I2, a bottomlwall I3 spaced from the top wall l2, and a partition wall [4 disposed between the top and bottom walls of the housing and dividing the interior of the housing into an impeller chamber l5 and a detergent chamber l6.

The transverse walls l2, l3 and M are all disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal center line or axis of the cylindrical side wall H of the housing and th top wall is rem yah y mo nt d ,011 th ou y having thereon a margina1 flange ll of cylindrical shape which receives the corresponding end of the housing side wall. The bottom wall I3 is marginally secured in an annular groove provided in the side wall by beading a portion of the side wall outwardly to provide a groove at the inner side and an annular bead or rib I8 at the outer side of the housing and the partition wall [4 is similarly secured in the housing by having its edge engaged in an annular groove in the housing formed by an annular bead formation l9 surrounding the housing.

An impeller 20 in the form of a star wheel is disposed in the impeller chamber l5 in the housing with the outer ends of its vanes substantially in engagement with the inner surface of the housing side wall II and this impeller has a bore 2| of noncircular and preferably polygonal cross sectional shape extending coaxially therethrough. The bottom wall [3 is provided with a central aperture 22 and the partition wall M is provided with a central aperture 23, the apertures 22 and 23 being disposed coaxially of the bore 2| in the impeller and an axle, generally indicated at 24, has an intermediate portion 25 of noncircular or polygonal cross sectional shape slidably received in the bore 2| of the impeller and end portions 26 and 21 of circular cross sectional shape and of reduced diameter extending longitudinally from the respectively opposite ends of the intermediate portion 25 coaxially of th intermediate portion and through the apertures 22 and 23 respectively. The bottom wall [3 is provided with a socket formation 28 surrounding the aperture 22 in the bottom wall and opening to the impeller chamber [5, this socket being shaped to receive the adjacent end of the intermediate portion 25 of the axle 24 and hold the axle and the impeller 20 against rotation whenever the axle is engaged in the socket.

A brush, generally indicated at 30, is concentrically mounted on the outer end of the axle extension 26 and is spaced from the outer side of the bottom wall I3 and substantially parallel to the bottom wall. This brush comprises a hub 3| in the form of a circular disc having a central aperture receiving a screw 32 which secures the disc to the outer end of the axle extension 26, and hook formations 33 curved inwardly from the peripheral edge of the disc'at substantially equal angular intervals around the disc, and a twisted wire and bristle structure 34 having somewhat the shape of a Maltese cross secured to the hub 31 concentrically of the hub 3 by having its inner angles secured one in each of the hooks 33.

The axle extension 21 disposed in the detergent chamber 16 is provided with a longitudinally extending closed slot 35 and an agitator 88 in the form of a longitudinally twisted strip of sheet material extends through the slot 35 to an extent such that the extension 21 is disposed substantially at the mid-length location of the strip. The slot 35 1s longer than the Width of the agitator strip, so that the axle 25 has a limited freedom of longitudinal movement to permit the end of the intermediate portion 25 of the axle adjacent the bottom wall 13 of the housing 'to move into and out of the socket 2B in the bottom wall.

A split clamp band 48 surrounds the housing side wall ll between the annular ribs l8 and i9 and has its ends constituting apertured lugs projecting outwardly from the housing side wall and secured together by :a clamp screw M which firmly binds the clamp band a lfl around the housingside wall. .A tubular :conduit 42 has one end secured to the band 40 and extending through an aperture in the side wall .H of the housing in a direction to :direct a .jet of water into the impellerchamber E in the housing substantially tangentially of .the impeller 20. The conduit '32 is provided with bends '43 and 44 spaced-apart intermediate the length thereof, so that while the end portionfof this :conduit adjacent the housing extends substantially tangentially from the housing intermediate the height of the impeller chamber 15, the :opposite end portion of the conduit :extends substantially radially from the housing above the impeller chamber. An elongated brace 65 of either solid or tubular construction has substantially the. same length and shape as :the conduit t2 :and has one end portion extending along the end portion of the conduit 42 remote from the housing, and its other end secured to the clamp band 4i] at a location spaced angularly around the housing 1 brace providing a rigid connection between the handle and the housing. A hose fitting 50 is secured on the end .of the conduit 22 remote from the housing for connection of one end of a flexible hose .to the brush. This flexible hose may bea garden hose, if desired, or may be a short length of flexible tubing, one end of which is connected to the brush, and the other end of which .is connected to a water supply conduit, such as a sink faucet, to equip the brush for washing dishes in a sink.

The partition wall 1'4 is provided near its edge with apertures El and '52 of which the aperture 5| is disposed near the end of the conduit 42 communicating with the impeller chamber l5 and the (aperture 52 is disposed at the opposite side of theaxle 25 fromthe'aperture 5|, so that water will flow from the impeller chamber through the aperture5'l into thedetergent chamber 15 and will flow from the detergent chamber through the aperture 52 back into the impeller chamber.

It is to'be understood that before the brushis put to use, the coverconstituted by the top wall 12 and flange 'I! .will be removed and a supply of detergent placed in the detergent against rotation.

tially uniformly over the area thereof and through which water passes from the impeller chamber I5 to the brush 30.

When the water is turned on to the brush and the brush is not being used, the water flowing through the conduit 42 into the impeller chamber IE will act on the blades or vanes of the impeller tending to rotate the impeller and, at the same time, the water flowing through the apertures 54 in the bottom 'wall It against the adjacent side of the brus'h'30 will 'urge the brush away from the bottom Wall and the force exerted by the water on the brush will seat the end of the intermediate portion 25 of the axle 24 in the socket 28 and hold the impeller and the brush When the impeller is thus locked against rotation, water can flow to the brush only through those apertures in the bottom *wall disposed in the space between rotor vanes disposed at respectively opposite sides of the end "of the conduit 42 extending through the side wall I I of the housing and the flowof water, when the impeller is thus locked against rotation, is only a fraction of the flow of water through the brush when the impeller is free to rotate. When the brush is pressed against the surface of an object to be washed, this pressure moves the axle -24 longitudinally, so that theintermediate portion 25 of the axle is :moved out of engagement with the socket :28, .thus freeing the rotor 29 to rotate and drive the brush 30. While the rotor rotating, all of the apertures in the bottom wall -t3of the housing arerendered eifective for the passage of water from the interior of the housing to the brush 30and the flow of water is thus greatly increased when the brush is in use. When the brush is in use with the increased flow of water described above, some of the water will now through the apertures 51 and 52 into and out of the detergent chamber 1 6 adding a regulated amount of the detergent to the water flowing .to the brush 30, so that detergent is applied as the object is scrubbed by the brush.

The invention may be embodied -in vother specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. "The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and .not restrictive, the

scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of 'thebe embraced claims are, therefore, intended 'to therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A fountain brush comprising a housing having an annular side wall, substantially .parallel top and bottom walls anda partition wall disposed between said top and bottom walls div iding the interior of said housing moan impeller chamber and a detergent chamber, an impeller in said impeller chamb'erlhav'i'ng a'boreoi polygonal cross sectional shape extending coax'ially therethrough, said bottom wall and "said ,partition wall each having a centrally disposed aperture therein concentricwith the bore in said impeller and said bottom wall having a socket formation on noncircular cross sectional shape.

impeller and coaxial end extensions of reduced 7 diameter extending respectively "through the apertures in said bottom and partition walls, a

brush coaxially mounted on said axle at a location spaced from the outer side of said bottom wall, said axle having a longitudinally extending closed slot in the portion thereof within said detergent chamber, an agitator element disposed in said detergent chamber extending through said slot and having a portion in said slot of a width less than the length of said slot to provide a limited freedom of longitudinal movement for said axle, a tubular conduit of rigid construction secured at one end to said housing and extending substantially radially from said annular side wall with a hose connection formation on its other end, and a handle on said conduit, said conduit being effective to direct a jet of water into said impeller chamber substantially tangential to said impeller, said partition plate having spaced apart apertures therein for the passage of water from said impeller chamber into said detergent chamber and from said detergent chamber back into said impeller chamber and said bottom wall having closely spaced apertures therein for the passage of water from said impeller chamber to said brush to supply water to the brush and urge the brush away from said bottom wall to seat the end of the intermediate portion of said axle adjacent said bottom Wall in said socket formation and restrain said impeller from rotation, said axle being moved out of said socket to free said impeller for rotation by pressure of said brush against the surface of an article being Washed.

2. A water driven fountain brush comprising a housing enclosing an impeller chamber and having a perforate end wall provided with a centrally located socket, an impeller rotatable in said housing and having a coaxial bore in registry with said socket, an axle extending through said bore, said socket and said end wall and having a limited freedom of longitudinal movement for movement into and out of engagement with said socket, said impeller being drivingly connected to said axle and said axle being held against rotation when engaged in said socket, a brush coaxially secured to said axle at a location spaced from the outer side of said end wall and effective when subjected to pressure on its side remote from said end wall to move said axle out of engagement with said socket and free said impeller and said axle for rotation, and a conduit connected at one end to said housing in position to direct a jet of Water into said impeller chamber substantially tangentially of said impeller, the water flowing from said impeller chamber through said perforate end wall to said brush and exerting a force on said brush tending to engage said axle in said socket.

3. A water driven fountain brush comprising a housing enclosing an impeller chamber and having a perforate end wall, an impeller rotatable in said housing and having a coaxial bore, an axle extending through said bore and said end wall and drivingly connected to said impeller, a brush coaxially secured to said axle at a location spaced from the outer side of said end wall, a conduit connected at one end to said housing in position to direct a jet of water into said impeller chamber substantially tangentially of said impeller, and means carried by said end wall and engageable with said axle to lock said axle and said impeller against rotation when said brush is subject at its side adjacent said end wall to the pressure of water flowing from said impeller chamber through said perforate end wall and free of pressure on its side remote from said end wall and to release said axle for rotation of said axle and said impeller when said brush is subjected to pressure at its side remote from said end Wall.

WILLIAM FLEMING.

No references cited. 

